Do me this favor translates the passive of the verb oninēmi, used only here in the NT (see verse 11), “may I be benefited, profited” (by you). Please do me this favor may be expressed as “be so good as to help me in this way” or “I ask you to help me in this way.”

For the Lord’s sake is literally in Greek “in the Lord” (see Revised Standard Version). It may be translated “as a fellow Christian” (see Translator’s New Testament). Or it may be rendered as “as a way of serving the Lord.”

Instead of “in Christ” (Revised Standard Version), later manuscripts have “in the Lord” (see King James Version). As a brother in Christ may be rendered as “as a fellow believer.”

Cheer me up is the same expression as in verse 7, “refresh my heart.” It may be expressed simply as “make me happy,” but frequently the equivalent of cheer me up is an idiomatic expression, “cause my heart to sing” or “give my heart sweetness.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to Philemon. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .